BeNeLux - Brussels, Gent

First we stop at the Atomium in Heysel Park in Brussels, before visiting Gent.

The Atomium is a symbolic 103-metre (338 ft) tall structure that was built for the 1958 World’s Fair. It consists of nine steel spheres connected by tubes, and forms a model of an iron crystal (specifically, a unit cell). The architect A. Waterkeyn devoted the building to science.



At Gent, we park our car at the underground market parking.

Statue of Jacob Van Artevelde


A is looking which direction we should take.

Bicycles were retrieved from the river.

We stop by to have snack at this stall for the French fries or Vlaame frites.
Vlaamse frites (pronounced "FLAHM suh freets") means "Flemish fries," a nod to the northern Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, where these favorite snacks come from. Here the most common condiment to dip them in isn't ketchup, it's mayonnaise.

We have lunch at this pannekoeken restaurant, Gwenola.
Dutch pancakes, called pannekoeken, are similar in texture and taste to French crepes; they're thin and made with a buttery batter that's neither sweet nor savory.

The Saint Nicholas church, one of the oldest churches of the city.

A Belfry tower is perhaps the most typical building in medieval Flemish cities. It represents the power of the cities and functioned as treasury and watch tower. The architects were Jan van Aelst and Filips van Beergine. The tower was completed in 1338, when the bells were rung for the English king Edward II. At the top corners of the towers a stone soldier on watch was placed.

The beautiful area of the city: the Graslei and the Koornlei. These are the names of two streets which lie along the banks of the old harbor of Ghent, right in the middle of the city. Graslei means 'street of the herbs and vegetables'. Koornlei stands for 'street of the wheat'. Both names indicate that these specific products where traded or stocked in that area.



The Meat Hall where we buy the ham.
The Meat Hall was built between 1407 and 1419. The gothic building with its large step gable facade was used in the 15th and 16th centuries as the central hall where the butchers of Ghent could sell their meat. Apart from a shop that sells meat related products, there is also a café/restaurant with a very appropriate ceiling decoration.

A quiet street in Gent.

On the way back from Gent to Brussels.



The result of our friends' shopping in four days.

Our dinner.